Selected quad for the lemma: death_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
death_n	law_n	sin_n	sting_n	14,375	5	12.1860	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A17419	The light of faith: and, way of holinesse Shewing what to belieue, and for what to striue together, earnestly contend, and suffer for in this contending age. And how to liue in all estates, conditions, and degrees of relation, according to this faith. In both, deliuering (as neere as might be, in the life of Scripture phrase:) only things necessary, as we meane to be saued, and auoiding vtterly things arbitrary, that distract, rather then direct a Christian. Collected out of holy Scripture by an vnworthy labourer in Gods vineyard, Richard Bifield pastor in Long-Ditton, in Surrey.	Byfield, Richard, 1598?-1664.	1630 (1630)	STC 4239; ESTC S107158	133,233	536

he doth it oft times but say thou liue to the gray haire yet know that is the euill day ageit selfe is a disease disabling to duties of religion youth is euery way fittest let Solomon tell thee Remember thy creator in the dayes of thy youth before the euill day come of which thou shalt say I haue no pleasure in it Eccles 12. 1. For the Impatient desire of The cure of the impatient desire of death death it is cooled and tempered 1 ●● by strength of iudgment we know and knowing resolue that affliction is to be chosen rather then transgression Iob 36. 20. 21. the contrary hereunto made Iob impatiently to wish the day of his death Iob. 3. 2 If we consider that God teacheth by his works and herein none like him Iob. 36. 22. 3 If we weigh well what Iobs speeches cost him humiliation to dust and ashes though they came out of great extremities which wrested them from his heart otherwise full of patience but now distracted almost through bitternesse Iob. 42. 6. For the feare of death it is a The cure of the fear of death disease hereditary deriued to all Adams children yet is must and may be cured it may be cured Heb. 2. 14. 15. 2 Cor. 5. 5. it must Luke 14. 26. Rev. 22. 17. 1 Pet. 1. 3. 4. the desire of heauen is a part of the seed which is cast into the furrowes of our hearts in our regeneration I know there is a feare of death which is meerely naturall a shrinking from it and shunning of it as of a thing hurtfull because it dissolues the vnion of soule and body for a time but we speake of that distempered feare which leadeth into bondage abeslauing feare which suffers not a man to thinke of death or happinesse after it and leaueth the heart impotent and void of all spirituall courage comfort and counsell Againe there are men of two sorts some that liue and dye in their sinnes haue cause to feare death in these a cure can neuer be wrought not that the medicines are vnauaileable but because they cannot bee brought to take the receipts Some that dye to their sinnes before they dye in these that beslauing feare may be cured and hath in such vsually heretofore beone cured Death is the King of terrors consider it in its reall nature and hue Its vizar assumed It s natiue hu● is terrible 1 In the cause Sinne Gods wrath Sathan the executioner who hath the power of death Heb. 2. 14. 2 In the nature thereof in it selfe opposite to life a punishment of God a destroyer of natures fabricke a dissoluer of this earthly tabernacle 3 In the effects which are A depriuation of Friends pleasures honours riches of this world The good wee might doe in Church Common-wealth Family A deprauation of the state of the body leauing it a cadauer a car case in the graue 4 In the affrighting concomitants terriculamenta mortis which are miseries Corporall Painies Agonies sometimes which doe befall Gods children The kind of death Spirituall Terrors from Satan and from God himselfe Temptations Vnquietnesse and angor of conscience In its vizar it is fearefull as it cometh into our minds As the depriuer of happinesse as if it seperated from God As if it had no other face then that of wrath and curse from God and were in its nature no way corrected How shall these darts be quenched Briefely 1 The cause of death is to be euacuated 1 By the death of Christ and our assurance of our part therin whereby the fauour of God is established vpon vs and the Serpents head crushed Heb. 2. 15. Death is a Serpent the sting is sinne the strength of that sting is the law victory ouer it is by Iesus Christ who satisfieth the law 1 Cor. 15. 55 56. 57. 2 By mortification of our beloued sinnes by our study to keepe a conscience voide of offence towards God and man 3 By receiuing the Sacrament of the Lords Supper oft wherein we shew forth the Lords death vntill his comming againe 1 Cor. 11. 26. 2 The nature of death in it selfe is terrible indeed but to the godly it is changed Rev. 14 13. insomuch that their condition is blessed for they rest from their labours their workes follow no losse of any good worke that euer they did no condemnation to them Rom. 8. 1. it is no other then a sleepe 1 Thes 4. 14. a day of liberty Rom. 8. 21. our returne to our home to euerlasting habitations the mansions in our fathers house our birth day the funerall of our vices the putting off our old clothes that we might be clothed vpon 2 Cor. 5. 3. 4. the remoouing out of a mudde house where we ●ere but tenants at will into the pallace of the great king Lord of heauen and earth there to dwell as in our inheritance for euer the end of our race the day of our coronation no punishment now there are three degrees of life eternall of which death is our entrance into the second in this life in regeneration Ioh. 17. 3. in the day of our departure in translation to Paradise 2 Cor. 5. 8. at the last day in the redemption of our bodyes Rom. 8. 23. 3 As for friends whose society thou loosest oppose thereto the meditation of that glorious place to which thou goest an inheritance incorruptible vndefiled that fades not the fellowship of Angels and the congregation of the first borne and the spirits of iust men and women made perfect the communion with God and with the Lord Iesus for while thou art present in the body in the best condition thou art absent from the Lord that Lord whom though thou neuer sawest yet thou louest and beli●uing reioycest with ioy vnspeakeable and full of glory How then shall thy soule burne with the flames of loue to him when thou shall see him 1 Pet. 1. 8. And when the thought of thy treasures and pleasures meet thee bethinke thy selfe of thy calling and profession to bee a Christian that is o●e conformed to Christ whose kingdome is n●t of this world whose life was glorious in a holy contempt of the world Say then with Paul God forbid that I should reioyce saue in the Crosse of Christ whereby the world is crucified to me and I vnto the world Gal. 6. 14. What comfort canst thou haue that thou art not a cast away if thou beat not down thy body and bring it not into subiection although thou wert a Preacher of the Word and diligent in that worke 1 Cor. 9. 24. There are two sorts of men men of this world men of God they differ herein the men of this world are such as place their happinesse in a belly full of this hid treasure and wealth and lands enough to leaue behinde them to their babes but the other are men after Gods owne heart carried with the spirit of Dauid that in the loue of righteousnesse can say Deliuer mee from these

may adde Perfection Reu. 22. 18 19. 2 Cor. 4. 4. Psal 119. 130. Perspicuity ought thereto or take ought therefro and that they are plaine and cleare to all Gods elect in all truths absolutely necessary to saluation the very entrance into them giueth light yea vnderstanding to the simple §. 11. Thus of the Scriptures out of 2 Of God these the Creed was taken according to the order thereof our faith is carried vnto God as the chiefe obiect and first it lookes vpon God the Father on this wise I beleeue in God the Father Almighty HE that commeth vnto God Heb 11. 6. must beleeue that God is and that he is a rewarder of them Deut. 6. 4 1 Ioh 5. 〈◊〉 Esa 48. 16. 17 that diligently seeke him that hee is one onely Lord who is three in persons the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost the Father God the Sonne God the holy Ghost God yet not three Gods but one onely Notwithstanding the Father is not the Son the Sonne is not the Holy Ghost nor is the holy Ghost the Father or the Sonne the Father is of himselfe the Sonne is begotten of the Father before all worlds the Holy Ghost proceedeth from the Father and the Sonne altogether worshipped and glorified That this one God who is Father Sonne and holy Gen. 17. 1. Ioh. 4. 24. 1 Tim. 6. 15. 16. Exod. 34. 6. 7. Ghost is the Almighty a spirit eternall al-sufficient al-knowing vnchangeable infinite in wisedome iustice holinesse truth and mercy and therefore most Glorious Blessed and onely good Maker of heauen and earth Who alone created all things 3 Of the creation Gen. 1. Col. 1. 16. Reu. 4. 11. visible and inuisible heauens and their hosts earth and their hosts in the beginning of nothing by his word onely and all of them very good his owne will moouing him thereto and not any need he had of them Who also made man after his 4 Of mans innocency Eccles 7. 29. Gen. 1 27. Ephes 4. 24. 5 Of Gods prouidence 1 Pet. 4. 19 Pro. 15 3. Heb. 1. 3. ●ol 1. 17. Pro. 16. 1. 33. 1 Tim. 4. 10. Lam. 3. 37. 38. 2 Sam. 16 1● owne Image and likenesse both male and female in knowledge righteousnesse and holinesse of truth Who likewise is that faithfull Creator still that seeth and ruleth vpholdeth and disposeth all things from the greatest to the least hauing care especially for man among men now chiefly for the righteous and beleeuers so that neither good nor euill befals any man without Gods prouidence yea hee disposeth of euen the euill actions of men yet all this most wisely powerfully Act. 4. 27. Ephes 1. 11 Eccles 3. 14 The necessity of a ●●edeemer 6 Of the Fall Gen. 3● Eccles 7. 29. 7 Of sinne Originall Rom. 5. 19. 3. 12. 13. and righteously Then was man made righteous but Christian faith compels vs to beleeue That our first Parents Adam and Eue by their owne voluntary disobedience fell from that happy estate wherein they were created thus by the disobedience of one all were made sinners and are defiled and depriued of the glory of God from their conception and birth being blinde in their vnderstandings vaine in their imaginations defiled in conscience rebellious in their wil fraile in their memories corrupt in heart and life and alienated from the life of God And if they come to yeares 8 Of sinne Actuall Eccles 7. 20. Psal 19. 1● 13. 14. Eph. 2. 1. Rom. 8. 7. guilty of many transgressions that make them abominable in the eyes of God and not able to doe any thing that may please God dead in trespasses and sins whose mindings are not subiect to the law nor indeed can bee Now by 9. Of the punishment of sinne Rom. 5. 12. 6. 23. sinne death entred into the world and is the wages of sinne both the first and second death In God the Father Man in this estate the childe of wrath God so loued the world that hee 10 Of ●le 〈◊〉 Ioh. 1. 16. 1 Pet. 1 ●0 Ephes 1. 4. 5. 6. gaue his onely begotten Sonne that whosoeuer beleeued in him should not perish but haue euerlasting life This Sonne of his loue before euer there was a world he sore-ordained to be our Sauiour and Redeemer and in him chose some men called therefore his elect that they should bee holy and without blame before him in loue hauing predestinated them to the Adoption of children by Iesus Christ that Sonne of his loue according to the good pleasure of his own will to the Rom. 8. 29 30. praise of the glory of his grace wherin he hath made them accepted in his beloued for whom he foreknew them he predestinated to be conformed to the Image of his Sonne whom he predestinateth them hee calleth whom he calleth he iustifieth whom hee iustifieth hee glorisieth §. III. Secondly our faith looketh vpon the Sonne of God the Messiah concerning whom we are to beleeue and professe and to liue and dye in that profession and beliefe And Iesus his onely Sonne THat Iesus of Nazareth is the Messiah and Sauiour of the world being very God the onely 11 Of Christs person natures Ioh. 11. 27. 6. 6. begotten Sonne of the father and true and very man yet but one Christ Who is Iesus Iesus The alone Sauiour of his people 12 Of his office in the whole Mat● 21. 1 Tim 2. 5. 2 Tim. 1 9. Tit. 3. 5. Ephes 2. 8. 9. Esa 49. 8. Gal. 3. 18. 22. Ier. 31. 3●● from their sinnes and the onely mediator betweene God and man in whom we are saued according to the grace of God and not according to our workes or ought in vs ●or through this our Mediator a new couenant God made with vs wherein he of his free grace promiseth to be a God and to giue remission of sinnes and life euerlasting to euery one that beleeueth in Christ and repe●teth of his sinnes Who is the Christ also Christ our Lord That is this Iesus is the annointed 1 Of his offices in the parts 13 Propheticall Deut. 18. 15. of God to be Prophet Priest and King to his people He is that great Prophet of the Church in whom are all the treasures of wisedome and knowledge Act. 3. 22. Col. 2. 3. Ioh. 1. 18. Eccles 12. 11. Eph. 4. 9. 10. Mat. 28. 10. Esa 48. 17. 1 Cor. 3. 6. Esa 50 4. Mat. 11. 28 who hath plainely opened and reuealed the whole counsell of his father touching our saluation and hath instituted and ordai●ed a ministery of men in the Church for the building vp thereof and for the perfecting of the Saints whom he will be with to the end of the world in this worke by his spirit through their ministery teaching to profit for to teach the heart within by inlightning the minde and working a beliefe of the doctrine recorded in Scripture or thence taught vnto men is

11. 28. 31. Mat. 5. 1 Cor. 10. 16. Vse Now it is required of euery one that would receiue worthily and not eate and drinke damnation that hee discerne the Lords body that hee examine himselfe and iudge himselfe for his sinnes that he forgiue those that haue Psal 26. trespassed him and that he grow in loue to the fellowship of the Saints and in hatred of all assemblies of wicked Idolaters and prophane persons §. VII The answere of a good conscience I beleeue THe Answere of a good conscience 31 Of faith 1 Pe● 3. 20. Ioh. 1. 1● 12. Hab. 2. 5. Ioh. 17. 3. Rom. 10. 10 is in this word I beleeue which is the receiuing euery one for himselfe of all and euery one of these truths into our mindes to know them and into our hearts to assent to cleaue to and rest vpon them for our iustification and eternall salu●tion and into our mouthes to confesse and professe them and into our whole man to liue the rest of our life in the power of them so that Gal. 2. 20. we may li●e by the faith of the Son of God who loued vs and gaue himselfe for vs. Such is the substance of our faith The pathes of holy life which guide men as they are Christians all their daies and euery particular day follow THE SECOND PART §. I. The order THey that thus beleeue Agend●s this matchlesse loue of God and his exceeding kindenesse to them in Iesus Rom. 5. 6. 2 Cor. 5. 14. P●al 119. 9 Christ haue the loue of God shed abroad in their hearts by the Holy Ghost which will constraine them ●o liue not to themselues but to him that dyed for them and rose againe The rule of such a life is Gods holy word which in our language containeth Gods will concerning vs. Wherefore it is to bee diligently attended that wee may learne what this life beseeming the Gospell and a Christian redeemed at so great a price may be and vnderstanding what the will of the Lord is it is necessary that we order our conuersation aright an heart to which worke the Lord without doubt doth giue to as many as shall see his saluation Psal 50. 23 Col. 1. 10. Pro. 10. 9. 14 8 Gal 6. 16 Psal 84. 11. If we shall thus doe wee shall walke in all pleasing wee shall walke vprightly and therefore surely we shall vnderstand our way the wisedome of a prudent man m●rcy also shall bee vpon vs and peace neither will the Lord with-hold any thing that is good for the Lord himselfe is the sunne and shield hee will giue grace here and glory hereafter and no good 〈◊〉 will he with-hold from t●em tha● walke vprightly Vp then and be doing and 〈…〉 e Lord will ●e with th●e But thou wi●●●s●y what should I doe● f●r●th direction I pres●nt th●e our of Gods word an Abstract of speciall precepts for the right ordering of thy conuersation wherein I desire not like an hand to point it out to others but as a fellow-traueller towards heauen res●●lue by Gods grace to be thy companion to tread wit● a right foot in the way of life Come then let Esa 2. 3. vs ioyntly walke in his pathes and he will teach vs of his waies The precepts of holy life not restrained to a daily direction are first general which concern 1. The qualifying of our persons who would liue holily 2. The helpes of an holy life 3. The manner of wel-doing secondly particular which order vs towards God other men our selues First the person ought to be rightly qualified we being all by nature a serpentine generation that will bite by the heele him that passeth on this way and a swift Dromedary trauersing the waies that lead to the chambers of death but not that broode of trauellers the generation Psal 24. 6. of them that seeke the face of the God of Iacob §. II Of the qualifying of the person that would lead a godly life 1. VVHosoeuer would 1 The person qualified to walke in an holy life liue and that well must be sure that hee breake off his former sinnes by vnsaigned repentance and become a new man and must looke to his faith both to be assured of his reconciliatio ●ith God through Iesus Christ and by beleeuing to draw forth vertue and grace from him to enable him to walke in the way of life for the uncleane cannot walke in this way Esa 35. 8. 9 it is called holy but it is prepared for those that beleeue and repent and these way-faring men Eph. 2. 2. Rom. 8. 8. 9. Gal 2 10. Ioh. 15 5. though fooles shall not erre therein till this also euery man is dead in trespasses and sinnes and walkes in the flesh and therefore cannot please God It is faith by which we liue or rather Christ liueth in vs now without him wee can doe nothing but if wee abide in him and he in vs we shall bring forth much fruit We● are in our naturall estate Lepers shut without the Campe and to rush into these walkes of new obedience not cleansed from this contagious leprosie is to pollute and defile all wee touch or haue to deale with The true cause why many that haue entred on the profession and practise of holy duties haue made no happy progresse and why some after long time haue fearefully fallen backe is no other then this they neuer laid a good foundation or made a good entrance by sound mortification That it may not thus fare with vs l●t vs know and practise what God requires of vs that wee might breake downe the power of our former sinnes and gaine some c●mfortable assurance of Gods loue in Iesus Christ in the pardon of them and so you must 1 Examine and try thy waies and turne to the Lord not contented that thou hast heard say we are all sinners n●r bearing thy selfe vpon that knowle●ge of thy sinnes which thou canst gaine by measuring thy selfe by thy selfe lest selfe-loue and a deceitfull heart doe beguile thee But the du●y required is to search and try thy s●lfe by the word of God and thence to take a true surucy of thy naturall filthinesse by sinne and that thou maist lay it deepely to heart take a rowle or bill of such offences against each Commandement as thou canst directly accuse thy selfe withall and learne to gage thine owne heart by that perfect law and because wee are by nature ready to make a mocke Pro. 14. 9. of sinne such is our spirituall folly therefore to know the heynous and odious nature of sinne in Gods sight weigh what it is 1 By the law which sheweth thee it is the offence of an holy and infinite iustice and m●iesty and the breaking of a law which thine owne heart approueth as spirituall holy iust and good it is Rom 7. 12 such an euill as separates betwixt God and thee it deserues for its wages death of body of soule

our troubles is troubled with vs Act. 9 4. Col. ● 24. Esa 63. 9. We are sure of the supply of the spirit of Iesus Phil ● 19. 20. who wi●l also rest vpon vs as the spirit of glory and of God 1 Pet. 4. 14. He that created formed and redeemed thee will be with thee Esa 43. 1. 2. 2 Cor. 4. 8. 9. 10. 11. and as the dying of the Lord Iesus is borne in thy body so the life also of the Lord Iesus shall be manifest in thee Right deare in the eyes of the Lord is the death of his Saints Psal 116. 15. The first man that came to heauen was Abel the iust Crowned with the crowne of Martyrdome Digest these and euery of these rules that thou maiest walk with God in all changes of thy condition in life §. XXX Preparations for death or how to dye THere remaineth yet one H●● dy thing of no small moment that concerneth his abode with God in or about his last worke he hath to doe in this world which is the laying downe o● this his earthly Tabernacle the change of changes here belo●e truth it is that an holy life such as hitherto hath beene pourtrayed euer ends in an happy death and againe How to dy whoso hath learned hath learned also how to liue yet there are specialties of direction which the Christian aboue all before sayd cannot well want and there is a speciall preparation for the vndergoing so terrible a change Take them thus they concerne 1 The curing of the diseases 1 By the curing of diseases of our Soules of which wee are all sicke to the death and all about this point of death 2 The estamping on vs the care of necessary duties 1 The diseases which our hearts are oppressed withall and subiect vnto are these fiue 1 Forgetfulnesse of our latter end Deut. 32 29. 2 Desperate resolutenesse vpon the memory of it 1 Cor. 15. Esa 22. 14. 3 A Couenant with death and hell making lyes and vanity our refuge Esa 23. 15. 4 The choosing of death to be rid of the miseries of life the impatient desire of death Ier. 8. 3. Iob. 3. 5 The feare of death which bringeth into bondage Heb. 2. 1● 15. The cure of forgetfulnesse For our forgetfulnesse it is cured 1 By information of our selues in these things the br●u●●y and vanity of life and of all things in the world the certainty vncertainty of death of the breu●●y of life we haue three ●estes Nature Experience and Scripture but Scripture witnesseth it most liuely where the basest things and of least continuance are taken to as bearing the fittest resemblance thereof it is a vapor● a weauers shuttle a post a ship in the Sea a bubble a flower of the field grasse a shadow a dreame a thought Of the vanity of all things vnder the Sunne Salomon hath sufficiently spoken in his Ecclesiastes or booke of the Preacher the certainty of death depends vpon decree and statute Law it is appointed that all shall dye Heb. 9. 27. and we know death hath reigned from Adam to this day we haue three nuntioes sent by death casuality infirmity and old age nay death hath already seized on vs in changes of our age in aches in sorrowes in sicknesses so certaine is it ●et not so certaine to be as vncertaine in what kinde at what time in what place it shall be 2 By watching against the causes of incog●ancy which are cheifely two the naturall security of our hearts and surfetting on earthly things Luke 12. 19. and 21 34. these both must be shaken off 3 By Prayer God onely can teach this lesson we must come to his schoole and our prayers must be to him for this thing Thus did Dauid Psal 39. 6. and 90. 12. For desperate resolutenesse The cure of resolutenesse vpon the memory of our end it is a disease which wee are subiect vnto when the euill corrupt heart forced to the apprehensions of its mortality by the pursute of his owne thoughts and the daily cry of a faithfull Ministery or the constant and frequent view of death griefes face is awakened but not truely but in a phrensie as it were and concludes dy we must we are all mortall Come then let vs eat and drinke let vs take time while time serue tomorrow comes and we are not This sore and euill disease shall be healed 1 By considering the greatnesse of the sinne which is fully declared by the Prophet Esay when he saith And it was reuealed in mine eares by the Lord of hosts Surely this iniquity shall not be purged from you till ye dy saith the Lord God of hostes Esa 22. 13. 14. 2 By discouering the originall whence it springs that that may be lamented ouer namely Atheisme and an heart voide of the knowledge of God and set vpon euill with a spirituall madnesse 1 Cor. 15. 34. 3● 3 By the contrary good a waking which is to righteousnesse not to sinne 1 Cor. 15. 33 34 For our Couenant with death m●king lyes our refuge it is the The cure of security reasoning of the heart that saith We haue done what wise men should doe because wee like politicians and worldlings haue fortified our selues with the best earthly helpes for body and state for our selues for ours yet no thought of serious prouision How wee might be built on the sure foundation stone Christ Iesus the Lord directs vs in this point in Esa 28. 16. That wee come as liuing stones to Christ that corner stone elect and precious and be sure wee be laied and built on him by beleeuing for hee that beleeueth in him shall not make hast nor be ashamed of his hope Or it is the reasoning of the heart that saith death is a debt we owe to nature but this must not passe for good with Christians for death in its nature is the wages of sinne death in its change is a sweet sleepe in Iesus sure of a blessed awaking at the resurrection of the iust it is then the beginning of eternall woe to him that dyeth in his sinnes but the doore to eternall blisse to all that dye in the Lord. Or this Couenant is that refuge of lyes we are not likely to dye yet strength is in our body milke in our brests marrow in our bones and age is for the sad and graue duties of deuotion and piety but let Iob speake what pleasure hast thou in thy house after thee Iob. 21. 21. 22 23. 24. 25. when the number of thy moneths is cut off in the middest Shall any teach God knowledge Seeing he iudgeth those that are high One dyeth in his full strength being wholly at ease and quiet his brests are full of milke and his bones moistened with marrow and another dyeth in the bitternesse of his soule take not vpon thee to instrect God hee can smite thee with death in the highest of thy pride and midst of thy welfare and

men for as for mee I will behold thy face in righteousnesse while I liue here and when I awake at the resurrection of the iust I shall be satisfied with thy likenesse Psalm 17. 14. 15. 16. 4 Oppose to the thoughts of the good thou mightest doe these s●uory meditations that God hath set thee thy time and he knoweth how long it is fit for thee to worke that he can prouide men endowed with spirit and power to effect what good he will haue wrought that thou maiest wound thy soule by miscarriage of weighty employments as well as honour God by the well-managing of them beware that vaine-glory or some vncleane affection put not forward this desire and know thy holinesse is not hindred but perfected by going to heauen 5 And for thy mis●e in thy familie I beware thou be not guilty of ascribing ought to thy prouidence wit poines or hand but to Gods blessing which can by thee and can without thee sustaine them in t●e●r necessitie 2 see that thou rest on the promises of God and referre them to him the faithfull Creator 1 Pet. 4. vlt. that heauenly father who knoweth wee haue neede of all these things of life Mat. 6. 32. That father of the fatherlesse and iudge of the widdowes cause 6 Oppose to the thoughts of the vilenesse of thy body the glory of the resurrection when this vile body of thine shall bee made like the glorious body of thy Sauiour Phil. 3. 21. whom thou shalt be hold not with other but with these same eyes though now thy reines should be consumed within thee by some loathsome disease When this corruptible shall put on incorruption this mortall shall put on immortality this naturall be raised spirituall this weake body raised in power and this body sowne in dishonour raised in honour 1 Cor. 15. 43. 53. Iob 19. 25. 26. 27. And to thy lying in the graue set 1 our Sauiours buriall who hath by his owne body laid in the graue perfumed thine and turned it from an hole of contempt into a garner to reserue the Lords purest graine 2 The nature of it what is it else saue a sweet rest in our bed Esa 57. 2. 3 The vnion and communion we haue with Christ is most neare and indissoluble Rom. 8. 38 He is now the God of Abraham Our very dust is yet in couenant with God and not dismembred from Christs body Mat. 22. 32. 7 For paines ag●nies and the kinde of death 1 Remember that all these were s●nctified to the Christian in the ignomini us and paine●ull death of the Crosse there they all lost their sting and poyson 2 All is yours life death by famine persecution sword 1 Cor. 3. 22. 3 God is your God and guide vnto th● death Psal 48. 14. 4 Take heed ●hou offend not against the generation of Gods children if by prosperity or aduersity thou conclude any man happinesse or misery before God How goeth it with the vngodly they prosper in the world they haue no bands in their death their strength is firme they are not in trouble as other men neither are they plagued like other folke In the meane while what is the estate of a Dauid let himselfe te●l All the day long haue I beene plagued and chastened euery morning Psal 73. 4. 6. 14. Being then setled in this perswasion that the Lord is thy shepheard say yea though I walke through the valley of the shadow of death I will feare no euill for thou art with me thy rod and thy staffe they comfort me Psal 23. 1. 4. 8 For temptations terrors and angors know 1 That the Anointing abideth with vs for euer 1 Ioh. 2. 27. 2 Now is thy faith proued not to be temporary if thou canstrest on the word of promise when thou hast no sense and feeling but of terrours Heb. 11. 1. Iob 13. 15. 3 Thou hast heard of the patience of Iob Oh see what an end the Lord gaue to his trials for the Lord is very pittifull and of tender mercies Iam. 5. 11. 9 For the vizar● if death present it selfe as the depriuer of happinesse it is cleane contrary rather is life so to the godly who while hee is present in the body is absent from the Lord 2 Cor. 5. 8. 9. And all in life is full of vanity and vexation of spirit while we liue we are lyable to Gods corrections to the preuailing of sinne to the bewitching enticements of the world to the buffetings of Sathan But looke vpon death in Christ and not in Moses and it is comfortable as the finall close of all miseries to soule and body and as the doore and gate of all heauenly refreshings 2 Cor. 5. 1. 2. Thus of the eare to bee ●r●ug●t vpon vs that we may ●●e happily the duties follow 2 Secondly when these diseases 2 By the care of duties are cured estampe on thy h●are the care of these duties which will keepe thy soule alwaies in an holy temper 1 Medi●ate seriously and frequently on death that thou maiest a●t●ine to that pitch of perfection to dye daily This produceth sixe rare effects 1 The flight ●f sinne Lam. 1. 9. 2 The contempt of the world 1 Cor. 7. 30 31. 3 Selfe-denyall 4 The right guidance of the present li●e 5 The true moderation of present ioyes 6 The right diuident dijudica●ion of a present and future life This shou●d bee beganne in our youth Eccles 12. 1. Iob 14. 14. 2 Meditate oft●n iudgement and hell and the glory of the heauen of the blessed 3 Practise the three theologicall vertues as they are called in Schooles ●aith in the premises hope of good things to come charity in making you friends of the vnrighteous Mammon 4 Haue alwaies an eye to those three gracious directions giuen by our Saui●ur Luk. 12. 35 36. 1 To haue your loynes girt ● corruption of nature and inward ●u●ls thence issuing so striuen against with strength of resolution that they may not hang about the feet of our soules in running the race of godlinesse 2 To haue your lampes in your hands burning that is our holy profession adorned with the shining light of good workes 3 To watch to prayer to the opportunities of wel-doing to the seasons of grace and against our corruptions 5 Remember Pauls Ethickes euery day to prac●i●e them ●●●t 2. 12. To deny vngodlinesse and worldly lusts To liue godly righteously soberly Practise them with three duties 1 Prayer in speciall for preparation for death and deliuerance from the former diseases 2 Almesdee●s 3 Fastings as occasions shall be offered 6 Looke to the casting vp of thine accounts there chiefely order thy selfe for these two things Forgiuenesse of wrongs done to thee Satisfaction of wrongs done by thee When thou art in the very confines of death death standing before the doore then see these three duties of speciall moment 1 Thy reconciliation to God and here present the grounds of thy hope to thy able Pastor requiring his